A call has been made to universities in England to intensify their efforts in preventing student suicides, as highlighted in a review commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE). For nearly two years, this report has been in the making, emphasizing the need for universities to evaluate the safety of student halls and involve families more in the aftermath of a student’s death. This marks the first instance of recommendations being issued to university leaders by the UK government. One particular suggestion is to discourage the placement of flowers where a student has died, especially if it could bring attention to a “suicide location.”
In a national review regarding higher education student suicide deaths, which was first revealed by BBC News, a study of 169 cases of suicide and severe self-harm reported by 73 universities within 2023-24 was conducted. The examination discovered that almost a quarter of incidents, where the location was identified, occurred in university-managed living spaces. Furthermore, it was noted that families were predominantly left out of serious incident review procedures. This review highlighted the significant risk of “suicide clusters,” described by Public Health England as situations where more suicides than anticipated take place in terms of time, place, or both.
Among the 19 recommendations outlined, universities are urged to conduct safety inspections of university halls and any areas where a student has passed away. Moreover, it is suggested that tributes should not be left in those areas to prevent drawing attention to them as suicide locations. The improvement of academic support for struggling students and the enhancement of transparency with families’ involvement in investigation processes are also emphasized. An additional task for universities is to review the accessibility of their mental health services to students. Vika Zak, a Nottingham Trent University animation student, expressed her positive experience with the support staff, stating that they were readily available when she sought help.
While acknowledging the steps taken by universities in reaching out to students regarding support services, the review underscores the need for betterment in terms of mental health support across the educational sector. The report suggests that improvements can be made in terms of awareness, signposting, and catering to the needs of specific groups, such as international students. It was noted that some reports identified the necessity for support services to actively follow up with students after initial contact, rather than predominantly placing the responsibility on the student to seek further help
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